Grateful Dead – Wake of the Flood sealed first issue 1973 LP

A sealed first pressing of the Grateful Dead's 1973 LP Wake of the Flood.

$99.00

Offered for sale is a still sealed, first pressing of the Grateful Dead’s 1973 LP, Wake of the Flood.

After fulfilling their contract with Warner Brothers, the Grateful Dead started their own record company – Grateful Dead Records. Their first release was Wake of the Flood, released in 1973, and that was their first studio release in three years.

Wake of the Flood didn’t disappoint, reaching #18 on the Billboard charts. AllMusic.com gave Wake of the Flood four stars:

It had been nearly three years since American Beauty — their previous and most successful studio album to date — and, as always, the Dead had been honing the material in concert. A majority of the tracks had been incorporated into their live sets — some for nearly six months — prior to entering the recording studio. This gave the band a unique perspective on the material, much of which remained for the next 20-plus years as staples of their concert performances. “Eyes of the World” contains some brilliant ensemble playing — although the time limitations inherent in the playback medium result in the track fading out just as the Dead start to really cook. Another highlight is Bob Weir’s “Weather Report Suite,” which foreshadows the epic proportions that the song would ultimately reach. In later years, the band dropped the opening instrumental “Prelude,” as well as “Part One,” choosing to pick it up for the extended “Let It Grow” section. The lilting Jerry Garcia ballad “Stella Blue” is another track that works well in this incarnation and remained in the Dead’s rotating set list for the remainder of their touring careers.

About this copy: This particular copy of Wake of the Flood is a still sealed original 1973 pressing. First pressings did not have song titles on the back cover, but instead had a hype sticker listing the song titles attached to the shrink wrap. Later pressings had printed titles on the cover.

This copy is sealed, and the record is presumably new and unplayed. The wrap is fully intact, with no rips, tears or holes. One corner is very slightly bent. This is likely the nicest copy of this album you’ll ever hope to find.

Pretty good record, too.

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